Milestone

This was the first time the Olympic Games took place in an Asian country. By winning two medals of each kind, Larisa Latynina of the Ukraine brought her career medal total to an incredible 18. She is also one of only four athletes in any sport to win nine gold medals. Two new Olympic sports were featured: judo (men) and volleyball (men/women). Several repeat winners were prominent: Peter Snell (NZL) won the 800 metres race again and doubled by also winning the 1,500 metres. Abebe Bikila (ETH) repeated his Rome victory only a few weeks after recovering from an emergency appendectomy. Al Oerter (USA) won his third consecutive discus title despite a disc injury in his neck, and a torn rib cartilage sustained only the week before.

In rowing, Soviet's Vyacheslav Ivanov also won his third consecutive title in the single sculls.

(Credit: IOC / Olympic Museum)